Royal Ascot starts today and Telegraph Sport is the first place for your tipping needs over a fantastic five days of action in Berkshire.
There eight Group 1 races to get your teeth stuck into as well as a host of hugely competitive handicaps and two-year-old races which are tough puzzles to solve but offer plenty of value for selections.
We have tips for every race from three esteemed judges, as well Racing Correspondent Marcus Armytage’s full guide for each of the 35 races.
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2.30 Facteur Cheval
Wide open race and admittedly a below-par renewal, with the late switching to the Prince Of Wales for Inspiral and question marks around Big Rock following a below-par effort in the Lockinge on his first start for Maurizio Guarnieri. However, there are few question marks around the consistent and top-class FACTEUR CHEVAL, who was a narrow winner on the world stage of the Dubai Turf back in March and finds himself in markedly calmer waters here. Fast ground should not be an issue for him here and he is fancied to take all the beating.
3.05 The Actor
Open renewal and one likely brimming with quality. Charlie Appleby holds a strong hand in Al Qudra and Symbol Of Honour, both impressive in winning last time at Lingfield on all-weather and turf respectively. However, they were both doing their winning after running behind THE ACTOR in a 5f novice at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting, a race that has worked out remarkably well and is likely to have a bearing on the Royal meeting one way or the other. The Actor tackles 6 furlongs for the first time and is fancied to take the step up in trip in his stride.
3.45 Asfoora
The sprint division looks wide open at present and lacking on superstars, with this year’s renewal a reflection of that. Big Evs has not done a lot wrong to date and is greatly respected in this context, whilst Twilight Calls very much caught the eye on his only start this year at Newmarket. However, ASFOORA is fancied to take a big step forward from her run in the Temple Stakes, where she ran a huge race in defeat, only tiring late on and shaping like she could come forward significantly for that race. Moreover, a switch to fast ground and Oisin Murphy taking over riding duties can only help her chances further; she can go close.
4.24 Rosallion
A fabulous renewal of this race, and invariably a fascinating one with the winners of the English, Irish and French Guineas all taking each other on. Notable Speech has to be respected greatly as the winner of all 4 of his starts to date, but perhaps he was a touch flattered from his rear position facing an overly strong gallop in the 2000 Guineas, whereas ROSALLION did plenty of work further forward in the race, travelling powerfully into the race before fading late. This race can see them finish a good deal closer, with Rosallion fancied to reverse the Newmarket placings. Alayanaabi can confirm the strength of the Newmarket form and fill out the frame.
5.05 Boher Road
Trainer Jarlath Fahey has only ever sent one horse across for Royal Ascot and came away victorious with Jennies Jewel back in 2016. It is therefore noteworthy that he fields one in the same race eight years on and, having won 3 of his last 4 starts on the flat, BOHER ROAD may not be finished improving quite yet and he rates a leading player here in a race where chances can be made for many. Heading the remainder is Zanndabad, who ran an excellent race to finish 3rd in the Chester Cup and gets the services of Champion jockey William Buick.
5.40 Torito NAP
As the market implies, John and Thady Gosden hold a particularly strong hand here via the pair of Israr and TORITO, two high-class horses who can very much make their presence felt. Israr finished an excellent 2nd to Passenger in the Huxley Stakes last month, form which can serve him well here on ground he should enjoy. However, Torito looks to have been unlucky the last twice, firstly when enduring a wide trip in last year’s Hampton Court Stakes and most recently when winning his “group” by upwards of 4 lengths in the Suffolk Stakes on 2000 Guineas day. There is more to come and he can show that here with a bold display.
6.15 Intinso
INTINSO may need some luck from his inside draw in stall 2, but he is fancied to round off a good day for the training partnership of John and Thady Gosden with a big performance here. He ran well on his first try at 1m6f last time out and likely has more to offer in a first time tongue tie and having only had the 8 career starts to date. Fox Journey was a wide-margin winner at 1m4f of his only start this season and can enjoy the return to further; he can give the selection the most to think about.
2.30 Docklands
3.05 Andesite
3.45 Big Evs
4.25 Notable Speech
5.05 Divine Comedy NAP
5.40 Torito
6.15 A Piece of Heaven
2.30 Big Rock
3.05 Catalyse
3.45 Big Evs
4.25 Rosallion NAP
5.05 Pledgeofallegiance
5.40 Israr
6.15 Naquub
As ever there is no gradual build up to the best day, it’s bang, straight in, three Group Ones, the first day is for the racing aficionado. It is a while since it has been the case but St James’s Palace Stakes is as it should be, pitting the Newmarket Guineas winner, Notable Speech, against the French Guineas winner Metropolitan against the Irish, Rosallion, with a couple of other decent three-year-old colt milers thrown in for good measure. It’s winner take all in terms of reputation.
If Royal Scotsman runs in the Queen Anne (2.30) he looks a huge price at 25-1 after a confidence boosting all-the-way win in the Diamed Stakes at Epsom on Derby day. He had lost his way a bit since finishing third in last year’s Guineas but refound his mojo with front running tactics, a bit of juice in the ground and will come into this unconsidered but with his dander up. Not a certain runner if ground is quick.
Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) – 2:30pm
I am not sure this is the best edition of this race. I have stated the case for Royal Scotsman but if he does not turn up Charyn appears to be the most consistent among this lot and is due a big one. Audience won the Lockinge as a pacemaker for Inspiral to the point where John Gosden was almost thinking of Switching Inspiral, fourth there, to the Prince of Wales’s to cover two bases for Cheveley Park. She should strip fitter. Big Rock won the QEII here last October but will only run to that rating on soft or heavy ground.
Coventry Stakes (Group 2) – 3:05pm
The most prestigious of the meeting’s juvenile races. It’s tricky. The winner needs a mix of precocity and ability and there’s not much evidence to go on, a couple or three starts at most. A lot of trainers will fancy their chances, at this stage of the season as a lot of their geese still look like swans but I like Karl Burke’s narrow York winner Andesite, still available at double-figure odds, to take a big step forward from that run.
King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) – 3:45pm
This five-furlong dash is likely to be over in the time it takes to pour a Pimms. If you were wondering what happened to the first-day staple, the King’s Stand Stakes, this is it; renamed in honour of the present monarch. Ironically for one of the world’s iconic sprints it only became a race in 1860 when its two mile predecessor could not be run because of waterlogged ground and this was run over the only raceable ground. Sprinters tend to have their days because it all needs to fall into place but we love Big Evs, who was fast enough at two to go to America and win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf sprint in their back yard. Still looks rapido.
St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) – 4:25pm
This should go a long way to sorting out bragging rights for the best miler of this year’s Classic generation. Unlike the English, French and Irish Guineas there’s a sharpish bend in the course here but it should not change much. Metropolitan probably wants juice, Rosallion went one better in Ireland and is a magnificent looking beast but Notable Speech, who beat him at Newmarket, is unbeaten, looked a bit green on the Rowley Mile and finished with his ears pricked. He should go in again but will be priced up accordingly.
